Advanced Topics in Interpersonal Practice

This mini course will explore contemporary issues in spirituality and social work focused on what it means to competently integrate spirituality into one’s social work practice. Spirituality will be viewed as a dimension in the bio-psycho-social assessment and treatment planning process. This course will explore the rationale and need to integrate assessment and interventions related to spirituality in social work in a manner that supports culturally competent practice. It will examine how spirituality is rooted in the history of social work practice as well as exploring how to best define, integrate, and use spiritual assessment and interventions in addressing presenting client issues in clinical setting today. The relationship between spirituality and issues of race, gender and social class as well as spirituality across the life cycle will be addressed. Spiritual assessment related to specialized areas such as trauma, addiction/recovery and chronic illness will be described. Specific methods and interventions will be highlighted and applied to practice. Relevant readings, discussion, case presentations, and experiential exercises will be used to deepen one’s competence and comfort level with spirituality in social work practice.